12/30/09 A critical year end deadline

Friends, It's almost time to put 2009 in the history books. Let's face it: tough year to end a tough decade. Too many Americans are still hanging on by their fingernails--worried about losing a job, losing a home, losing health insurance. Too many Americans are still bewildered by hatred focused on us from abroad. Too many Americans are worried about the future. But at the end of my first year as a U.S. Representative, I am optimistic. This year, we saw a reverse on the stem-cell research ban, the passage of Lilly Ledbetter legislation requiring equal pay for equal work, a credit card reform law, and substantial progress on the critical issues of health care reform, a financial regulatory overhaul and energy. Typical of our system, there has been compromise and delay. There has been gross partisanship, distortion, anxiety and anger. But we've taken some very important and difficult first steps. We've drawn on that limitless American capacity for improvement, that belief that we can always do better. That, at the end of the day, is the source of my optimism. For 233 years, we have pulled a more prosperous and just nation from the teeth of adversity. But, as I said, the fight is just getting started. At midnight on New Year's Eve, I'll have to report my fundraising total for the year to the FEC. The media, pundits and my opponents will use my fundraising numbers as a measure of our grassroots support, and as an indication of whether there is continued support for moving forward or desire to revert to the policies of the last decade. That means we have just 1 day left before the most critical fundraising deadline in politics. We are just $20,000 from our 2009 goal - I need to your support to put me over the top. Contribute $1000, $500, $250 or even $50 before the 2009 FEC deadline on December 31st Republicans are looking to take back the House in 2010, and I am squarely in their crosshairs. They think they have the momentum and are prepared to fight tooth and nail against me to take back this seat. They have their special interest-funded attacks, but I have you. I know that if I can reach my goal of $20,000 by Midnight Dec. 31st, there will be no doubt that my campaign has the necessary momentum going into 2010. Contribute $1000, $500, $250 or even $50 before midnight December 31st and help me reach my 2009 fundraising goal. We can't afford to wait until spring and summer to fight back - I need your help today. I can't be more clear: elections can't be won today, but they can be lost - especially at year-end when the Palin-Limbaugh-Beck right-wing kicks into high gear funding mode. I know I can count on you to make 2010 my strongest year yet. All the best, Jim

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